Travel Blog

BART’s new San Jose Station

Our Friends in the South Bay now have a new Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station in north San Jose that will make it easier to travel to Marin and Sonoma Counties without having to drive.  Brryessa Station is located at 1620 Berryessa Rd, San Jose.

BART Berreyessa Station

BART, of course, operates throughout the Bay Area.  BART’s Green Line will take you directly to the Embarcadero Station one block from the Golden Gate Ferry Terminal.   A fun ride on the ferry to Larkspur and a short ride on the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit’s (SMART) shuttle takes you to the Larkspur SMART Station.

SMART Larkspur Shuttle:  https://sonomamarintrain.org/Connect
Larkspur SMART Station

Or you can enjoy a short walk or bike ride to the SMART station on the connected pathway.

SMART to Ferry Pathway

Bikes are permitted on BART, the ferry and SMART.  Marin and Sonoma Counties have many off-road bike paths if you are a bicycle enthusiast.  Check out EcoRing’s Partner lodging for a place to stay overnight:   https://ecoring.org/lodging/

If you live in Sonoma or Marin Counties, you can reverse the route as I did recently to bike the Penitencia Creek Trail to Alm Rock.

Penitencia Creek Trail

The trail starts at the Berryessa Station, a good example of integrating pathways into the transit system.

It is always best to plan your trip in advance.  The schedules for the SMART train and the Larkspur Ferry are coordinated for most trips: https://www.sonomamarintrain.org/schedules-fares    The SMART schedules even show the ferry connections.  BART, the Golden Gate Ferry and SMART all use the clipper card which makes transfers easy.   Just tap on and tap off.  Seniors are free on SMART!  If you are taking your bike, both the Embarcadero BART Station and the Barreyessa Station have elevators large enough for bikes.

Incidentally the new BART cars are much nicer that the old ones.  The have much better bike space and more comfortable seating.

And remember, if you travel without your car, you will save money and fight climate change.  Enjoy!

Marin Authority Speaks Up for Electric Vehicles and Alternative Fuels

 

By Mel Barnard

The Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) has exciting—or rather, electrifying news to share. Agencies around Marin are adding Electric Vehicles to their fleet and upgrading or installing equipment appropriately for that change.

Transitioning to electric can drive positive change in your life. On a personal level, you don’t have to worry about oil changes, you can save $1,200 a year on fuel and maintenance, electricity is cheaper than gasoline by a significant margin, etc. Transitioning also helps the community by driving more local spending with gas savings and putting safer vehicles on the road. Electric Vehicles also cut out tailpipe emissions and reduce ecological damages to our climate.

TAM has created resources for those looking to transition to more sustainable fuel vehicles as well as information for the community at large.  Some of these resources are linked below, but you can find out even more information on their site.

U.S. Bicycle Route System

Why doesn’t Sonoma County participate in the The U.S. Bicycle Route System?  Time to ask our Supervisors.

The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is a developing national network of bicycle routes connecting urban and rural communities via signed roads and trails. Created with public input, U.S. Bicycle Routes direct bicyclists to a preferred route through a city, county, or state – creating opportunities for people everywhere to bicycle for travel, transportation, and recreation.

Over 14,000 miles are currently established in 27 states and Washington DC – and many routes are signed.

Since 2005, Adventure Cycling has been proud to shepherd the growth of the USBRS. We provide free technical assistance, coordination, and resources to assist stakeholder groups in their designation efforts.

Together, we’re building the largest public bike route network in the world!

In a Global Health Emergency, the Bicycle Shines

Author  Laura Laker

Speaking in Parliament in London earlier this year, Chris Boardman, the former Olympian cyclist and the walking and cycling commissioner of Manchester, said: “Pick a crisis, and you’ll probably find cycling is a solution.”He was talking about climate, health and air pollution, but he also might as well have been talking about coronavirus.

As Covid-19 rages, almost half of the world’s population is under some form of restricted movement. In a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, people must stay home, aside from strictly limited essential trips for food and medicine and a daily outing for exercise. We all need to comply with restrictions to bring this life-threatening virus under control. I believe the best way to keep a safe distance from others when we do move is by walking, and cycling.

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Shelter in Place Location Updates

Many Marin County Parks locations are reopening on Monday, May 18, 2020, per the updated public health order. Visitors should maintain six feet of social distance. Carry a face covering and put it on when needed. Limited parking at large regional parks, to support social distancing. Other restrictions may apply, even at open locations. Please respect posted signs and guidance from rangers. Check each location below for details.

Central Marin